Do you think his technique in this regard has changed that much from when he was making some runs a few years back?

I do. He's always been like this to some extent, it's not totally a new problem by any stretch, but I do think it's more pronounced now. At his best Watson scored a lot of runs straight down the ground (as he does as I type this) and through straight midwicket. It's always a good sign when Watson's flick for four actually goes between midwicket and mid on rather than between midwicket and square leg; it's a real pointer to him batting well as it means his head is more or less over the ball at the point of contact. He hasn't hit the ball straight of midwicket with any regularity since the 2009/10 season really.

38.3
Styris to Pietersen, SIX, wow, what a shot, that is awesome..its a repeat of his six off Muralitharan at Edgbaston, as he switches his grip and reverse-hits Styris over deep cover for a memorable maximum.

Originally Posted by Cricinfo

42.6
Styris to Pietersen, SIX, that's the most extraordinary shot, he switches his grip to that of a left-hander and launches Stryis high over long-off for a might six. That is one of the more incredible shots you'll see

I do. He's always been like this to some extent, it's not totally a new problem by any stretch, but I do think it's more pronounced now. At his best Watson scored a lot of runs straight down the ground (as he does as I type this) and through straight midwicket. It's always a good sign when Watson's flick for four actually goes between midwicket and mid on rather than between midwicket and square leg; it's a real pointer to him batting well as it means his head is more or less over the ball at the point of contact. He hasn't hit the ball straight of midwicket with any regularity since the 2009/10 really.

I do. He's always been like this to some extent, it's not totally a new problem by any stretch, but I do think it's more pronounced now. At his best Watson scored a lot of runs straight down the ground (as he does as I type this) and through straight midwicket. It's always a good sign when Watson's flick for four actually goes between midwicket and mid on rather than between midwicket and square leg; it's a real pointer to him batting well as it means his head is more or less over the ball at the point of contact. He hasn't hit the ball straight of midwicket with any regularity since the 2009/10 really.

Exactly my point PEWS. Its not only technique, its when he is trying to hit it straight/defend it straighter. CUT OUT the shots to Fine Leg Watto.

At his best Watson scored a lot of runs straight down the ground (as he does as I type this) and through straight midwicket. It's always a good sign when Watson's flick for four actually goes between midwicket and mid on rather than between midwicket and square leg; it's a real pointer to him batting well as it means his head is more or less over the ball at the point of contact.

Yeah, that's the thing. I kinda think that cos he looks so good smashing some stuff off the stumps early, guys strayed away from it a bit. Whereas now they just try and hit him on the pads every ball.